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Standing
in the center of the nearly complete penthouse at the Neapolitan, his
brand new highrise in Old Town, developer Robert Mosky, waves a hand
at the inlaid cherry ceiling and plain white walls.

“All of this cherry paneling – we’re putting it on
the walls too – will darken," says Mosky, partners with Albert
Kocemba in RDM Development. “We’ve had people concerned
in the past about whether or not this would match their furniture. We
have to sit down with their designers and explain that cherry wood darkens
as the sunlight hits it. Trust me, we know wood."

Not only do RDM and Kocemba’s construction arm, Alko Construction,
know wood, they also know with a shocking level of certitude how even
the smallest details in a new development will play out.

At the Venetian, a 16-story condo building underway around the corner
from the Neapolitan, at 222 W. Division, Mosky knows that his crews
as of mid-January will build a new floor every six days until the 16-story
structure is complete. He knows the precise type of commercial tenant
he wants – a gourmet grocery / café that sells prepared
food, bakery items and good coffee – and has lined up a user to
fulfill that vision. Perhaps most important, he knows how condos at
the Venetian, from the most affordable one-bedroom to the top penthouse,
will look and feel.

“All of these units have at least 10- to 11-foot ceilings,"
Mosky says. “That really is dramatic. It’s hard to appreciate
it without seeing. Nine feet is nice; ten is fantastic. It gives you
such a feeling of volume and space. Even someone in a one-bedroom can
feel like he’s living in a palace."

A high level of standard finishes in all of the units adds to that feeling
of luxury, according to Chaz Walters, the Coldwell Banker agent selling
the Venetian.

Mosky, whose projects range from the recently completed Neapolitan and
North Center to Ivy Lane and Reliable Lofts, says his strategy is always
to start with a strong package of standards, though buyers might not
fully appreciate them until they move in.

“We always give a little more on the standard finishes, we try
to put our best foot forward," Mosky says. “But it always
looks even better than people expect. It’s hard to convey how
good it’s going to look. We definitely don’t over-promise,
and we definitely over-deliver."

What RDM will be delivering at the Venetian, designed by architects
Hartshorne & Plunkard, is 88 condos priced from the $270s to the
$650s. The units have one to three bedrooms and one to three baths.
They include large balconies or terraces, hardwood floors, in-unit laundries,
marble master baths, granite counters, 10-foot ceilings and fireplaces
(penthouses have an even higher level of standard finishes, and two
of three duplex penthouses were sold at press time). Indoor parking
is $35,000 per spot. Eight tandem spots are available for $55,000

The building has a 24-hour doorman, a rooftop deck, a fitness center,
a party room, a landscaped plaza of more than 2,500 square feet and
a formal lobby with 14-foot ceilings, dramatic archways and marble floors.
Though it ultimately will be up to the new condo associations to decide,
RDM has planned the Venetian so that it could easily be connected to
the Neapolitan to share some services and amenities.

Unusual features such as this potential connection between buildings
and the expansive fifth-floor plaza set the project apart, according
to Walters.

“The outdoor garden is unique," Walters says. “In Europe,
they’re very into big open spaces where people can relax and walk
around and enjoy themselves. You literally could walk your dog on that
level. It’s that big."

The Venetian has just eight units per floor. Three face north, three
face south and the two end units face both north and south. Because
of setbacks on the ends of the building, six of the eight units on each
floor are corner units. Residences begin on the fifth floor, over the
parking garage. All of which allows for good views, even from the lowest
condos.

“People have 75 to 150 square feet of outdoor space on their balconies,"
Mosky says. “You have this incredible skyline view, and brand
new construction to the north and south that’s mostly low-rise,
so nothing’s in your way. It’s the same thing to the west,
a lot of low-rise new construction, as far as Clybourn."

At press time, the project already was 50 percent sold. To what does
Mosky attribute that quick sales pace in a market that has slowed from
the frenzied pace of a couple of years ago? Pricing has been a big part
of the Venetian’s success, Mosky says. Around 30 of the units
come in under $300,000 – a competitive price point for new luxury
units in Old Town. The location itself has been another big draw.

“You get buyers who want to live specifically in this neighborhood;
they’re not going to live in Lakeview if they want to live here,"
Mosky says. “It’s not as congested as the heart of the Gold
Coast. It’s a real neighborhood with great restaurants and retailers
and proximity to a grocery store, but still walking distance from the
Loop."

The Venetian strives for the same sort of happy medium, according to
Mosky, large enough to have stunning views and luxury amenities, but
small enough at eight units per floor to feel like an intimate boutique
building.

RDM’s vision for its buildings, which extends far beyond merely
writing contracts or delivering units, is another part of the developer’s
success at projects like the Neapolitan, North Center and the Venetian,
Mosky says.

“Everyone at the company has a tremendous eye for detail,"
Mosky says. “We have zero tolerance on punch lists. We want nothing
on there, and if there is something, we want it done the day we close."

RDM prides itself on “after-service," according to Mosky,
who cites several recent projects that his management arm now runs as
evidence of this long-term approach.

“We manage these buildings because we want to make sure they’re
run properly," Mosky says. “We don’t want Windex used
on marble floors or abrasives on glass. Even if I don’t own anything
there, it’s still my building and I want it to look good."

First occupancy at the Venetian is scheduled for January 2004.

Copyright 2018 RDM Development and Investment, LLC. All rights reserved.